Frankie’s lips pursed. “Tell meexactlywhat was said.”
It had been a long time since he and Frankie had had an exchange like this. She used to help him decipher social situations when they were younger because he was always so clueless.
“I said, ‘It’s getting late, are you ready to go?’”
“Were you talking before that? Did you cut her off? Interrupt her?”
He couldn’t tell his sister he asked if she needed to go to the hospital, she would ask why he’d said that.
“I asked if she was okay.”
“Why did you ask if she was okay?”
“It looked like she’d been crying.”
“Okay.” Frankie nodded, as if logging the information. “What was happening before you noticed that it looked like she was crying?”
“She was looking out the window.”
“Okay.” Frankie’s eyes narrowed. “What wereyoudoing before you saw her at the window?”
“I was speaking to someone.”
“Who?”
“An actress.”
A wrinkle appeared in the center of Frankie’s brows as they furrowed. “Why?”
“She is researching a role.”
“Okay, and did you tell Poppy that?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“She didn’t ask.”
“What did she say right before she stormed off?”
“I said it was late and asked her if she wanted to go, she said not to worry about her, she’s a big girl. She can find her own way home. I can go do…whatever I want with whoever I want.’”
“Ohhh.” Frankie said as if everything made perfect sense. “Were you talking to Shane?”
Shane Fox was an Academy Award winning actress who lived in Hope Falls. She was married to firefighter Evan Bishop. They were both at the party because they knew Zion, who shot Shane for the cover of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.
“No.”
Frankie sighed. “What actress were you talking to?”
“Desiree Dove.”
“Right.” She smiled as if that was the final puzzle piece she needed and now the picture was complete. “Okay.”
“Okay, what?”
Frankie lowered her voice to a whisper and glanced around before leaning in. “She’s jealous.”
